Max Politics Podcast: Claire Valdez on Her Bid for Congress in NY-7
Date: February 21, 2026
Host: Ben Max
Guest: Claire Valdez (Assemblymember, Candidate for Congress)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ben Max sits down with Claire Valdez, current NY State Assemblymember and DSA-endorsed candidate for Congress in New York’s 7th District—a diverse, progressive district in western Queens and Brooklyn. As the seat opens up upon Rep. Nydia Velasquez’s retirement, Valdez discusses her background as a union organizer, her journey into politics with Democratic Socialists of America, labor and housing policy, distinctions between her and her opponents, and major issues facing the district—including the affordability crisis, housing policy, U.S.-Israel policy, and immigration.

Claire Valdez’s Background & Entry into Politics

Early Work and Union Activism

• Claire is originally from Texas, moved to NYC for work 10 years ago, and has a history in low-wage customer service jobs.
• Joined UAW Local 2110 at Columbia University in 2018 (“my first introduction to union life”)—became unit chair and led workplace grievances (07:28).
• Became deeply involved with NYC-DSA; helped run campaigns and led at the chapter level before running for office.

Quote:

“It’s a really profound experience to be able to stand with your coworkers against a bad boss… We fought for better wages and working conditions and to make sure that our union rights were protected. That was kind of my introduction to politics.” (08:02)

Responding to Critiques of DSA and ‘Transplants’

• On being criticized as a transplant and the DSA as “young transplants”:

“I came to New York because I wanted a better life. … Our struggles are the same. This is a very unaffordable city, it's becoming more so every day, and we need to fight alongside each other to take on venture capital and private equity and corporate landlords… We have much more in common than separates us.” (11:17)

Labor Organizing in New York & National Implications

• New York has high union density—especially public sector—but private sector organizing needs to grow (13:24).
• Despite relative NY strength, organizing is still a struggle, citing strikes at Amazon and Starbucks in her district.
• Sees her legislative role as “making the terrain as fertile as possible for new organizing.”

Notable Example: UAW’s recent organizing win at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, expanding labor power into the South.

Amazon HQ2, Union Strategy, and Worker Power

• Valdez recognizes diverse union opinions on Amazon HQ2’s failed Queens campus deal.
• Emphasizes importance of worker power over incentives:

“Amazon’s not demonstrated any willingness to play nice with their workers. … The organizing drive continues here at the facilities that exist and any others that will come along.” (18:18)

Political Heroes

• Cites Bernie Sanders as her “north star”—describes personal and family experiences with the U.S. healthcare system and how Sanders' consistent advocacy for Medicare for All inspired her political work (19:12).

NY-7: District Profile and Key Issues

• Diverse: 37% white, 36% Latino, 14% Asian, 10% Black (district is 77% tenants, average age 34, with large immigrant communities) (22:04).
• Top issues: Affordable housing, immigrant protections, utility/childcare/MTA costs (“People are struggling to get by and they're seeking lives of dignity. … We can struggle to find that dignity.”)

Housing Policy and Social Housing Vision

• Supports building more housing, but focuses on “what kind of housing and who is going to profit.”
• Champions the Social Housing Development Authority (state) and Homes for All Act (federal)—permanently affordable, democratically managed social housing (25:11).
• Wants state intervention to fund, expand, and guarantee quality social/public housing.

Quote:

“It’s possible for this to be really beautiful and abundant housing that people can afford, that people of all backgrounds can afford. … This is a model, I think, that offers a vision for what role the state has in providing housing for its residents.” (25:56)

Decision to Run for Congress & “Movement Candidate” Perspective

• Valdez describes her campaign as part of a broader movement, not a solo decision—wouldn’t run without DSA or UAW’s support (29:50).
• Feels Congress needs a union organizer’s perspective, given legal and structural hurdles to organizing most American workplaces.

“Having a union organizer in Congress would offer a perspective that is sorely missing and needed.” (30:41)

Distinctive “Labor Organizer Lens” for Legislating

• Describes her ability to organize across political differences around concrete issues (wages, benefits, healthcare) (31:59).
• Values the perspective from "grueling" workplace organizing and contract work—and wants federal policy that actually enables working people to win power.

Incrementalism, Litmus Tests, and DSA Politics

• On the DSA-vs.-incremental gains debate:

“How do we build power? … Some of that requires painting a really broad vision for the world we actually deserve and understanding that it’s going to take time to get there and take a series of steps…” (34:41)

• Rejects money-in-politics from corporate PACs as a “power” question, not purity.

Legislative Record & Practical Compromise

• Proud Moment: Led a multi-level electeds’ letter after the abduction of Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil in early 2025, calling for his immediate release and condemning ICE (37:27).
• Incremental Win: Helped remove the “100-foot rule” in the NY HEAT Act, sees it as partial climate progress. “We take wins when we can. … Sometimes you take a small win because it shores up confidence in the process.” (38:45)

Policy Differences with Opponents

• Sees her union organizing work and her stance on Gaza as key distinctions with Borough President Reynoso and Council Member Julie Wan (40:42):

“I have a really clear and consistent track record on speaking out against the genocide in Gaza and not just naming it as what exactly it is, as a genocide, a crime, but calling for a ceasefire very early on, calling for the end of US Aid to Israel and speaking out for Palestinian human rights.” (41:32)

On U.S.-Israel/Palestine Policy

• Would condition any aid to Israel on compliance with U.S. and international law (43:49).
• Wants more “real enforcement” of existing legal prohibitions on supporting human rights violators.

Quote:

“We shouldn't be sending aid to a country that's committing flagrant human rights violations, that's blocking aid to people who need it. … Right now Israel is breaking international law and the United States is breaking its own law by continuing to fund military action there.” (44:02)

• On defensive aid if legal standards are met:

“I'm certainly sympathetic to those arguments. … We need to get there first before we can consider additional aid.” (46:37)

Puerto Rico Advocacy

• Would seek to carry on Velazquez’s focus on Puerto Rico (48:43).
• Supports the Status Act; says “the decision for independence, statehood, status… really has to rest with Puerto Rico” (49:10).
• Pledges to advocate for representation, economic relief (including addressing the Medicaid “cliff,” the Jones Act, and hurricane recovery), and respect for the Puerto Rican diaspora.

Democratic Party Leadership & Congressional Direction

• On support for leadership: “I hope that we are in a position … that we will be voting on a majority leader.” Not yet committing to Hakeem Jeffries, wants leadership to take “bold stances” and put “working people back at the heart of the agenda.” (51:58)
• Praises Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as an “incredible leader and a really effective communicator”—actively seeking her endorsement. (53:33–54:48)

Political Strategy & Ground Game in NY-7

• Emphasizes ground game and door-knocking as central to her campaign’s hopes, leverages energy from DSA and Mamdani supporters (56:16).
• Acknowledges need to build name recognition across Brooklyn and Queens, eager to learn from and work with community organizers (57:53).

Notable Quote:

“If you don’t canvas out there, do it. It is incredibly humbling and grounding and will change your politics very quickly.” (56:45)

Immigration Policy & ICE

• Valdez’s top immigration priority: abolish ICE. Champions “real humane pathways to citizenship” and ending the “terrorizing” of immigrant communities (61:25).
• Details harm caused by ICE, including self-deportations and families living in fear; says ICE’s budget should go to communities instead.

Quote:

“I am older than ICE. We need to abolish it. We need to stop terrorizing our neighbors.” (61:25)

• On compromise: would accept steps like reducing funding and increasing accountability, but the North Star remains abolition (63:45).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On organizing across differences:

“What united all of us is the need and desire for higher wages, for better childcare benefits, to protect the health care that we have.” (32:09)

• On DSA movement:

“This isn’t about me making a single decision. It’s about a movement kind of carrying forward a vision.” (29:50)

• On compromise:

“Sometimes what we’re doing is really thinking about how we build power. And sometimes you take a small win because it shores up confidence in the process.” (38:24)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 06:54 – Claire Valdez’s introduction and personal background
• 11:17 – On being a transplant & DSA critiques
• 13:24 – Labor organizing strength in NY and the Amazon struggle
• 19:12 – Political heroes & Bernie Sanders influence
• 22:04 – NY-7 demographics, district issues
• 25:11 – Housing policy, social housing
• 29:50 – The “movement candidate” perspective, role of DSA/UAW
• 34:41 – Incrementalism, compromise, and movement strategy
• 37:27 – Legislative accomplishments and lessons in Albany
• 40:42 – Distinctions with opponents: Labor background, U.S.-Israel/Palestine
• 43:49 – Israel/Palestine policy: conditions on aid, international law
• 48:43 – Velazquez’s legacy & Puerto Rico advocacy
• 51:58 – Democratic leadership and AOC
• 54:48 – Seeking endorsements, congressional support dynamics
• 56:16 – The ground game: field strategy and organizing
• 61:25 – Immigration policy: abolition of ICE and humane reforms
• 63:45 – On compromise and incremental reform on immigration enforcement

Closing

This episode offers a candid window into Claire Valdez’s motivations, legislative approach, and values. She lays out a campaign rooted in labor organizing, democratic socialist ideals, and a commitment to building power for working-class and immigrant communities, while drawing clear contrast with opponents and emphasizing the need for principled, movement-driven leadership in Congress.